Stapling machine



Dec. 29, 1936. w. G. PANKONIN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i lllllllllllllIIlllllljlllllllllllllllll" ATTORNEY} Dec. 29, 1936. w. G. PANKONIN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY} 29, 1936. w, PANKONlN 2,066,157

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fig i figii INVENTOR.

BY 6mg, WL/

min 7'] M 1 L e ATTORNE Y5 Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 44 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in stapling machines.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a stapling machine which is so designed as g to flatly bend or clinch the legs of the staple and this irrespective of whether the legs are bent back under the body portion of the staple or bent outwardly therefrom; to provide a stapling-device which may be actuated in the usual way by pressing down on a knob or which may be gripped in the hand and operated by tightening the grip of the hand; and to provide a stapling machine having a staple carrying arm of improved construction in that it is lighter in weight and yet 'eflective to efliciently drive the staples and this even though the staple legs be slightly bent. In the event the legs of the staple are badly bent or deformed such a staple is severed into pieces and the pieces ejected from the machine.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a stapling device having a novel form of means for insuring a full stroke of the plunger and staple driving tool, and means being so designed as to be I not liable to become jammedor bound.

Among other objects of the invention are to provide a stapling machine with an improved mounting for the housing of the follower spring and with a novel arrangement for holding the follower spring extended when loading the magazine;

and to provide means preventing the metal of the body portion of the staples flowing or creeping relative to the driving tool thereby enhancing the staple driving action and tending to prevent bending or deformation of the staple body portions. Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing a stapling machine embodying the present invention in side elevation, portions being broken away and portions being 45 shown in longitudinal vertical section for the sake of illustration;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan illustrating the base of the machine, the staple carrying arm and associated parts being removed;

50 Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in top plan illustrating the anvil parts or die members of the base in a different position from that shown in Fi r Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal 55' vertical section illustrating how the staple carrying arm coacts with the anvil members in the final phases of the staple driving and clinching action;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the staple carrying arm and associated parts in front 5 elevation;

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view in elevation looking toward the rear end of the stapling machine;

Figure 8 is a view in vertical section taken on line 88 of Figure 1, parts being omitted for the sake of illustration;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale and in central vertical longitudinal section to illustrate the structure at the forward end of the magazine and the guide-way through which the staples are driven by the driving tool;

Figure 9a is a fragmentary detail view taken on line w:c of Figure 5 and further illustrating the structure of the machine at the forward end of the magazine;

Figure 10 is a view in front elevation illustrating the base of the machine and the anvil mem bers;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing a modified form of construction;

Figure 12 is 'a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section illustrating a further modification of the anvil;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the full stroke insuring means;

Figure 14 is a group view in perspective showing the lower end of the staple driving tool and the parts provided at the forward end of the magazine;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a special form of staple blank which may be employed;

Figure 16 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section showing a modified form of structure for actuating the movable part of the anvil;

Figures 17 and 18 are views partly in section and partly in elevation showing how the staples are sharply and flatly clinched;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the interconnection employed between each arm of the yoked end of the operating lever and the plunger;

Figure 20 is a view similar to Figure 19 but showing a modified construction;

Figures 21, 22, and 23 are fragmentary views in elevation showing variation in the construction of the driving edge of the driving tool; and 5 Figures 24 and 25 are similar views showing the manner in which the bridge portion of the staples may beideformed when driven by a plain and straight edged driving tool.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the stapling machine comprises a base designated at l and which may be in the form of a metal plate, wider at its forward end than at its rearward end and tapering or of gradually decreasing width toward its rearward end. The edges of the base plate I rearwardly of the extreme forward. end thereof are formed or flanged up to adapt the base to be gripped by the hand and also to strengthen the base. The rearward ends of these flanges 2 are enlarged as at 3 to provide a mounting for the staple carrying arm as will be hereinafter more fully described. The rearward end of the base is also flanged up as at 4 between the enlarged portions 3 of the side flanges. Flat and horizontally disposed feet designated at 3' may be struck out of the enlarged flanges 3 to effectively widen the base and render the machine more stable or less liable to tip over (see Figures 1 and '7).

At the forward end of the base an anvil designated generally at 5 is provided and is made up of a flxed anvil member 6 and a movable or shiftable anvil member i. The fixed anvil memher 6 provides the means against which the legs of the staple are flatly clinched and may be slotted as shown at 3' in Figures 1, 2, and 3 or the slot may be omitted if desired, as indicated in Figure 12. The anvil member 1 provides the means which initially cams or bends the legs of the staple and as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and i0 is provided in its forward end with a notch 8, the ends of which are inclined or beveled as at 9 and are positioned to engage the legs of the staple as the staple is forced down by the staple driving tool and are thus designed to bend the staple legs inwardly so that subsequently they may be flattened by the coaction of the staple driving tool and the anvil member 6. In lieu of notching, the forward end of the movable anvil member may have its side edges beveled as shown at iii in Figure 11, in which event it bends the staple legs outwardly instead of inwardly. In either construction the anvil member is formed or provided at the forward end of an elongated and tapered'plate i2 mounted on the base for sliding or longitudinal shifting movement and constrained to partake of such movement by means of headed guide studs l3 secured to the base plate 9 and coacting with guide slots M in the plate l2.

To prevent papers or other material from slipping in between the fixed and movable anvil members longitudinal ribs i are provided on and project down from the movable anvil member 1 and slide in similarly formed grooves or notches ii formed in the fixed anvil member 6. Two sets of such ribs and grooves are employed in the type of anvil member shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 10, and 12 while one set is used with the type of anvil members shown in Figure 11.

The present'invention proposes to normally maintain the anvil member I in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 so that as the'staple is driven its legs will first be bent by the inclined camming surfaces of the anvil member I. As

the staple is forced down against the anvil memher 6 the anvil member 'I is withdrawn rearwardly and out of the path of movement of. the staple driving tool and this is preferably accomplished automatically by means which may be more The staple carrying arm designated generally at A comprises a molded core II preferably 01- bakelite or other similar composition and metal side plates l6 flatly engaged with the sides of the core and secured thereto in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of rivets l1. The sides of the core adjacent its top are cut away as at I8 and the side plates it have inturned flanges. l9 whereby to provide a magazine for the staples, the body portions of the staples riding along the top of the core beneath the flanges l9 and the legs of the staples being accommodated in the spaces between the cutout portions of the core and the opposed portions of the side plates. The rearward end of the arm A is pivotally mounted on the base by means of a pivot bolt 20 having its shank passing through openings provided therefor in the enlarged portions 3 of the flanges of the base and through similar openings in the side plates l6 and core I, the bolt being held in position by a nut 2| (see Figures 1 and 7).

For yieldably maintaining the staple carrying arm in spaced relation to the base, a spring 22 is provided and has its lower end engaged with a shoulder 23 of a stud 24 and has its upper end engaged with a washer 25 embedded in the core l5. The stud 24 is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the base and its upper end projects through the washer 25 and into an opening 23 formed in the core and providing the clearance for the stud when the staple carrying arm is moved toward the base.

At the forward end of the staple carrying arm,

a main housing designated generally at 33 is provided and consists of a front wall 3|, side walls 32 and a rear wall 33. The lower portion of the front wall 30 is positioned in front of the forward end of the staple carrying arm and the side walls 32 have enlarged lower ends 32' which overlap the adjacent portions of the side plates 1 6 and are riveted thereto as at H. The housing 30 may be formed of one piece of metal with the side walls 32 formed integral with the front wall thereof and bent at right angles thereto and the back wall formed by integral and angularly bent extensions of the side walls, which extensions are interconnected by a dovetailed mortise and tenon joint or formation designated at 33 and shown to advantage in Figure 8. Fitting in the housing 30 for vertical sliding movement is a tubular plunger 35, the upper end of which may be provided with an operating knob 35. A staple driving tool 31 isdisposed flatly against the front face of the plunger and is securely interconnected therewith as by means of a rivet 38. The upper end of the staple driving tool is engaged flush against the underside of the knob 36 so that the plunger is positively backed up during the staple driving action. The knob 36 may be used to actuate the plunger or where the stapling device is operated by a gripping action, an operating lever 40 is provided and has its rearward endmounted for pivotal and sliding movement on a pivot pin 4| extending between and supported by elongated lugs 42 which may be formed integral with the rearward ends of the side plates I6. Slots 4| are formed in the rearward end of the operating lever 40 and are traversed by the pivot pin the approximate U -shape in cross section as indicated in Figures 5, 7, and 8. A spacing sleeve 4| is fitted on the pin 4| and has its end abutting the opposed'portions of the lever 40 through which these pivot pins extend. As will be understood from Figures 1, 5, and 6, the forward end of the hand lever 46 is bifurcated or yoked and the arms 44 of the yoked forward end straddle the housing 36 and are disposed opposite vertical slots 45 formed in the side walls 32 of the housing. A pivot 46 which may be in the form of a rivet interconn ctseach arm 44 with the plunger.

The shank or body portion of each pivot 46 extends through an opening provided therefor in the plunger 35, through the adjacent slot 45 and through an opening provided therefor in the rounded end portion of the adjacent arm 44 (see Figure 19). At its inner end each pivot 46 has a head within and engaged with the plunger 35. A bushing 41 is fitted on that portion of the shank of each pivot 46 which is disposed within its slot 45 and in the opening in the end portion of the adjacent arm 44. Each bushing 41 has a flange 46' at its outer end overlapping and of the same diameter as the rounded end portion of its adjacent arm 44 and in turn overlapped and engaged by the head formed at the outer end of its associated pivot or rivet 46. The bushings 41 also serve as stops since they engage the ends of the slots 45-to limit the upward and downward movement of the plunger 35.

Washers 41' are mounted on the bushings 41 and are interposed between the arms 44 and the side walls 32 of the housing 36. When the device is operated by a gripping action, the operator grasps the lever 46 in the palm of his hand with the thumb overlapping the lever 46 and with the fingers extending around and gripping the base I. By tightening and'then releasing the grip of the hand the device may be rapidly and conveniently operated.

The molded core I terminates short of the forward ends of the side plates and is in spaced relation to the front wall 3| of the housing 36 (see Figures 1, 4, and 9). Fitted against the forward end of this molded core is a die block 56 of steel or other suitable metal (see also Figure 14). The top surface of the die block is in the same plane as the top of the molded core and, as shown in Figure 4, the staples fed through the magazine ride over this top surface of the die block as they pass into the path of movement of the staple driving tool. Integral with the body of the die block are side members 5| which fit flatly against the inner surfaces of the side walls 32 of the housing, these side members being accommodated in the cut-out 52 provided in the forward end portions of the side plates l6. Lugs or tenons 53 are integral with the side members 5| and project forwardly therefrom and into openings provided therefor in the front wall of the housing. As shown in Figures 9.and 14, the side members 5| project forwardly of the front face of the die block slightly and serve to space the front face of the die block from the front wall 3| of the housing and thus form a guideway-55 through which the staples slide when driven by the staple driving tool.- The reduced forward ends 56 of the side plates l6 have portions of their lower edges resting flatly on the upper ends of the side members 5| and are also provided with tenons or lugs 51 snugly fitted in openings provided therefor in the front wall 3| of the housing. The cut-outs 52 are sufficiently large to provide openings 58 in the side walls of the magazine just rearwardly of camming inclines 59 formed between the die block and its side members 5|.

A combined guide and abutment plate 66 is provided just above the forward end of the magazine and has its front end notched as at 6|. At the ends of the notch, lug-like projections 62 are formed and they engage flush against the inner face of the front wall of the housing. Bosses 63 are pressed or struck down from the plate 66 and in the assembly interflt with openings 64 formed in the flanges IQ of the side plates |6 of the magazine whereby to hold the plate 66 in position and also to maintain the side plates |6 properly spaced and in proper relation to the core l5. The notch 6| coacts with the front wall of the housing to form a guide means for the staple driving tool which alines it with the guide-way 55 and insures its movement down through this guide-way. The plate 66 also has an opening 66 receiving the reduced lower end 61 of a centering pin 68. Just above the reduced lower end 61 the centering pin 68 has an annular enlargement 66. A coil spring 16 encircles this centering pin 68 and has its lower end abutting the enlargement 69 and its upper end engaged under the knob 36. The spring 16.is under sufficient compression to urge the plunger and staple driving tool upwardly at all times with the proper forcealthough it is yieldable to allow the smooth and convenient operation of the device.

The front wall of the housing adjacent the upper portion of the die block 56 has pressed out portions 15 adjacent the path of movement of the legs of the staples. The lower ends of these pressed out portions have inwardly inclining cam surfaces 16, opposite the camming inclines 59 of the die block and cooperable therewith to straighten the bent legs of staples as will more clearly appear hereinafter.

Means is provided for insuring a full stroke of the plunger and comprises a series of notches or openings 86 formed in the staple driving tool or in a part connected thereto and providing in effect a rack or row of teeth which is flanked by a vertical slot 8| having an inclined portion 83 at its upper end which extends over the upper end of the series of notches 86 and having its lower end beveled as at 82 or else enlarged laterally until it underlies the row of notches 86. Cooperable with these notches 86 is a pawl or detent 84 having its notch engaging portion 84 beveled as shown in Figure 1 and extending through an opening 82 in the front wall 3| of the housing to coact with the notches 86 and slot 8 The detent 84 is formed integral with one end of a generally U-shaped mounting portion 85, the legs of which are rotatably and slidably fitted on a pivot pin 86 secured to apertured ears 81 struck from the front wall of the housing. A combined tortional and compression spring 88 is mounted on the pin 86 and has one end hooked as at 89 about one of the ears 81 and has its other ,end pushing against one of the legs of the mounting member 85 and also press-down on the detent 84.

With this construction, when the plunger is depressed, the beveled face 84 of the detent 84 plays freely over the notches 86 as long as the plunger continues to move downwardly. If downward movement of the plunger is arrested beforeit has completed a full down stroke the straightor square underface of the detent 84 will engage in one of the notches 86 and hold the plunger against upward movement despite the influence of its spring-16. If, however, the plunger is completely depressed and a full downstroke thereof effected, the detent will come into the inclined portion of the slot 8| and will be cammed over by the walls of the slot into the straight vertical portion thereof. This camming of the detent involves a shifting of its mounting portion axially along the pivot pin 96 and against the action of the spring 89. With the detent in the straight portion of the slot the plunger is free to move upwardly under the influence of its spring 19 and such movement will occur until the plunger is completely elevated, at which time the detent will ride up the beveled lower end 82' and out of the slot 8|, and will be shifted back into alinement with the row of notches 80 by the action 01' its spring 89. I

Means is provided for feeding the staples through the magazine and comprises a follower conforming generally in its shape to the shape of the magazine and freely 'slidable therethrough. The body portion of the follower 90 has a raised portion 9| which is fastened to a combined spring attaching member and finger grip 92. One end of the flat coil spring 93 is doubled upon itself and interconnected with the spring attaching member 92 as indicated at 94. The other end is coiled about and secured to the hub or core of a spring housing 96. The spring 93 is first secured to this hub .95, wound to the required tension, and the hub is securely staked or secured to the side walls of the housing. As shown, the housing is constructed of a single piece of metal and is bent to provide spaced side plates 98 and an integral and curved connecting plate 99. The

enclosure afforded by the side plates 98 and connecting plate 99 is completed by extensions I 90 of the side plates which are curved to form a continuation of the connecting plate 99 and interconnected by dovetailed mortise and tenon joint or formation IflI.

The spring housing 96 is detachably mounted on the main housing 30 by means of hook members 98' formed integral with the housing side plates 93 and engageable in the slots 91 of a fixed cross bar 95' extending transversely between and having its ends secured to the enlarged portions 32' of the main housing side walls below the rear walls thereof. This engagement of the slots 9? of the cross bar 96' with the integral hook members 98' of the side plates 98 of the housing 96 holds the side plates 98 in proper spaced apart relation to preclude binding of the spring 93 in its coiling or uncoiling movements. The lower end of the rear wall is cut away as at 33 to accommodate the hook members 98 when the spring housing 96 is assembled with the main housing 30 and has its hook members 98 engaged with the slots 91' of the cross bar 96. The tension of the spring 93 maintains the hook members 98' engaged with the cross bar and causes the edges 98' and Hill) of the spring housing to abut firmly against the rear wall 33 of the main housing. However, the spring housing 96 may be conveniently grasped and moved in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 to disengage the hook members from the cross bar 96 and detach-or remove the spring housing whenever desired.

When the magazine is to be loaded the operator grasps the finger engaging portions 92 of the finger grip 92 and pulls rearwardly thereon to withdraw the follower from the magazine. The wings of the finger grip designated at 92' are then raised and interengaged with notches I04 formed in the sides of the hand lever 40. This retains the spring and follower out of the way while the operator is loading the magazine with staples. When the magazine has been loaded the operator may conveniently re-insert the follower in the magazine wherein it is eflective to feed the staples to the staple driving tool. It will be noted that the flanges I9 and portions 0! the side plates I6 are cut away at the rearward end of the staple carrying arm to allow of conthe rearward end of the plate I2 has its side edges formed up into ears III]. The cars IIO have alined apertures to receive a pivot pin III which also passes through apertures in similar ears II2 turned down from a connecting link H3. In between the ears II2 a collar I is fitted on the pivot pin III! and is provided with an integral rearwardly projecting spring center-' ing pin II5 extending into one end of a coil spring H6, the opposite end of which fits over a similar centering pin III integral witha pivoted abutment piece I I8 mounted in the enlarged portions 3 of the side flanges of the base. The spring H6 pushes forwardly on the collar Ill and yieldably maintains the die member or anvil member I in such position on the base as to be in cooperative relation to the staple driving tool. The forward end of the link II3 has integral therewith apertured ears II9 through which a cross pin I20 extends. The ears H9 and pin I20 are accommodated in a recess I5 provided in the molded core I5 and the end portions of the pin I20 extend through slots I2I provided in the side plates I6 and alined slots I2I' of the side walls 32 of the housing, the extreme ends of the pins projecting beyond the side walls 32 of the housing and pivotally interconnecting with bell crank levers I23. The bell crank levers I23 aretdisposed one at each side of the housing and are fulcrumed on the side walls thereofv as indicated at I24. Enlarged portions I25 on the bell crank levers are disposed adjacent the lower ends of slots 45 and in the path of movement of the arms 44 of -the hand lever 49 and of the flanges 46 of bushings 41 so that as this hand lever approaches the end of its stroke toward the base, the arms and flanges 46 press on the portions I25 of the bell crank levers and rock these levers in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, thereby thrusting the link II3 rearwardly and imparting a similar movement to the plate I2 and die member I. It will be obvious that the die member 1 remains stationary 'until after its beveled or camming surfaces have initially bent the legs of the staple outwardly or inwardly as the case may be and have brought the bent legs into such relation to the fixed die member 6 that they may thereafter be flattened by the coaction of this fixed die member and the staple driving tool. Angle lugs 43 Figure 5 suitably secured to the lower portions of the side walls of the housing and having fiat underfaces 43' may be utilized to aid in the final bending of the legs where the legs are bent outwardly bythe type of anvil member shown in Figure 11. At the start of'such final bending of the legs the mechanism just described shifts the movable die member I rearwardly beyond the raised or active portion of the fixed diemember and this movable die member moves downward toward the base and out of the field of action of the staple driving tool and of the staple carrying arm. In this way the legs of the staple are flattened and straightened in their clinched position with sharp bends between the legs and the body portion of thestaples, as shown in Figures 17 and 18. As soon as the grip on the hand lever 40 is released and the parts returned to the position shown in Figure 1, the spring II6 repositions the die member I.

The movable die member may be operated by the hand lever 40 as just described but the hand lever may be eliminated from the device and the movable die mechanism may be operated by the plunger 35 through the flanged portions 56' of the bushings 46 pressing upon the portions I25 of the levers 123 as shown in Figure 20.

A modified form of interconnection between the bell crank levers I23 and the movable die member I is illustrated in Figure 16. As therein shown, the plate corresponding to plate I2 and designated at I2 is integrally formed with the link designated at 3', being connected with this link by a bowed or connecting portion I26. In this constructiona centering pin H5 corresponding to the centering pin II5 may be formed by striking out a piece of metal from the connecting portion I26. link II 3 is formed with apertured ears I 21 whereby it may be pivotally interconnected with the cross pin I20 as in the other type of construction.

, In use, irrespective of whether the machine is operated by pressing down on the knob 36 or by gripping the lever 60 and base I and drawing the lever toward the base, the staple carrying arm A first swings toward and into engagement with the base inasmuch as the spring I is sufficiently stronger than the spring 22 to insure such action. After the arm A is engaged with the base, continued pressure on the knob 36 or continued gripping of the lever 40 and base I causes the plunger 35 and driving tool 31 to slide toward the base I and anvil members 6 and I. Such movement of the tool 31 will cause it to coact with the cutting edge 50' of the die block to sever the staple lying in the guide-way from the remaining staples and to advance the severed staple down through the guide-way 55 and eventually out through the lower end thereof and into the material being stapled. If the legs of the staple be bent they will be straightened out during the travel down through the guide-way by the action of the camming surfaces I6 and 59 unless the staples are so very badly bent as to be beyond the capacity of the camming incline 59. In the event the staples are so badly bent they will be severed into pieces, the driving tool 31 coacting with the cutting edge 50' provided at the lower end of each camming incline to efiect such severing/ Certain of the severedwardly are accommodated in the recess provided The forward. end of the The action of themachine in efiectively driving staples and precluding undesirable distortion thereof may be enhanced by constructing the lower end of the driving tool 31 in the manner shown in Figure 14,, that is, by forming sets of teeth I30 and I3I in \the lower edge of the staple driving tool. The teeth of both sets incline orslope outwardly as shown. The teeth may be provided across the entire lower edge of the tool or may be separated by a 'plain portion I32 if desired. Teeth of this character have such engagement with the body portion of the staple as to prevent the body portion from flowing or creeping across the lower edgev of the driving vent the legs of staples from backing up and causing the'bridge or body portions of the staples from buckling or breaking down. The buckling or bending to which the body portion of a staple tends, is shown in Figures 24 and 25. It will be understood that if a staple is to be driven into material by the driver 31, the corners of the staple bridge just over its legs are the spots where the indentations or protrusions are most important. With the present invention, at these points or corners the metal of the staple bridge enters or is pressed into the indentations of the driver or else the protrusions of the driver press into the metal of the staple during driving and clinching, depending, of course, upon the design of the driver. In this way the legs of the staple are prevented from backing up and collapse of the body portion of the staple is avoided. This construction of the driver allows staples to be driven through harder and more material than would be otherwise possible with the smooth faced driver. It also simplifies the device by eliminating all spring staple supporting means.

The toothed structure on the driving edge ofthe driver also forms a shear-like edge and lessens the blow on the driver in severing bent and out of square staples. The staple strip may, as shown in Figure 15, be formed with indentations or protrusions upon the top of their bridge or body portions, such indentations or protrusions being designed to interlock with corresponding formations on the staple driver to assist in backing up the legs of the staple and in preventing bending of the staple bridge but this is not neces-'- sary as the driver constructed as' previously described will prevent backing up of the legs and buckling of the bridge during the driving and clinching operation of the smooth top wire staple. The staple strip as shown in Fig. 15 is more fully described and claimed in the application.

of William G. Pankonin for Staple and staple strips, Serial No. 39,247, filed September 5, 1935.

As the staples are forced out through the lower end of the guideway 55 by the staple driving tool their legs are caused to penetrate the material and then come into engagement with the inclines 9 if the anvil shown in Figures 1, 2, and 10 is employed, whereupon the legs of the staple are bent inwardlyby said inclines. The

inwardly bent ends then come-into engagement with the floor of the groove 6' and upon further downward movement of the driving tool the legsof the staple are flattened and clinched up against the body portion under the combined action of the floorof the groove 6 and the driving tool, the anvil member I with'its inclines 9 having, at this time, been shifted rearwardly since the lever 40 has now so closely approached the base 1 that the rounded parts of its arms 44 and/or the flanges 46' of the bushings 41 have contacted with and have pressed on the portions I25 of the bell crank levers I23 whereby to swing these levers and caused them to have thrusted the link I I3 rearwardly and consequently to have pulled the plate l2 and die member 1 back to the position shown in Figure 3. The provision of the groove 6' and the engagement of the legs of the staple therein overcome any tendency that the staple might otherwise have to be dragged rearwardly by virtue of the frictional engagement of the staple with the inclines 9. There is, however, in many cases, but slight tendency for this rearward movement of the staple upon rearward movement of the shiftable or movable anvil member and hence it is proposed, as shown in Figure 12, to use in some instances at least a fixed anvil member with a plain flat top, the groove being omitted. Where the anvil of the type shown in Figure 11 is employed, the action is the same except that the staple legs are bent outwardly and are flattened against the fixed anvil member under the combined action of the staple driving tool and of the presser lugs 43.

As soon as the legs of the staple' have been properly clinched and flattened pressure is released on the knob 36 or the grip is released on the hand lever 40 and base I and the parts then automatically resume'the position shown in Figure 1 under the action of the springs 22, I0, and H6.

When the driving tool is returned to its uppermost position its lower edge is just above the body portions of the staples and consequently the spring 93 then acts through the follower 90 to feed the staples through the magazine and thereby bring another staple into position beneath the staple driving tool.

While I have shown and described constructions illustrating how the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that such constructions have been selected merely for the purposes of illustration and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the subjoined claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A stapling machine of the type having a base, an anvil thereon, a staple carrying arm pivoted to the base and provided with a magazine for the staples and a staple driving tool, said anvil comprising a fixed anvil member against which the legs of the staple are flattened and a cooperable anvil member shiftable longitudinally of the base and having means for initially bending the legs of the staple, and means for withdrawing said shiftable anvil member from the field of action of said staple driving tool during the final bending of said legs.

2. A stapling machine of the type having a base, an anvil thereon, a staple carrying arm pivoted to the base and provided with a magazine for the staples, a staple driving tool and operating means tened and a cooperable anvil member shiftable longitudinally of the base and having means for initially bending said legs, and means operatively disconnected from said operating means during initial bending but actuated therefrom to withdraw said shiftable anvil member from the field of action of said tool during the final bending of said legs.

3. In a stapling machine of the type specified, an anvil for clinching and flattening the legs of a staple against material through which the staple is driven comprising a fixed member having a fiat surface against which the legsare flattened and a movable member resting upon said fixed member and having means to originally bend both. legs of the staple, said movable member being removable from said fixed member to permit said fixed member to flatten the bent legs. I

4. In a stapling device, a base, an anvil on said base comprising a fixed anvil member providing a surface against which bent staple legs are flattened and a shiftable anvil member providing a surface against which staple legs are originally bent, a beam magazine forsta-ples having one end hinged to said base, movable staple driving means carried by said magazine at the other end thereof and operating means between said staple driving means and said shiftable anvil member to positively shift said shitfable anvil member.

5. In a stapling device, a base, an anvil associated with said base for clinching staple legs and comprising a fixed anvil member providing means for straightening and flattening bent staple legs and a movable anvil member providing means for originally bending staple 'legs, and means contained on said fixed anvil member engaging the bent legs of staples to keep them in substantialalinement with the bridge portion of the staple while said movable anvl member is moved laterally from and out of engagement with the staple.

6. In a stapling device having a base and a beam magazine for staples pivoted to said base, an anvil consisting of two relatively movable members associated with the base for flattening the legs of staples underneath material stapled, one of said members being connected to an operating member comprising an upper part mounted to the underneath part of said magazine and a lower part mounted to the upper surface of said'base, said parts being positively related for simultaneous longitudinal movement and operating means for said upper part.

,7. In a stapling device, a base, a shiftable anvil for outturning staple legs and a second anvil for flattening said outturned legs, a beam magazine means carried by said magazine and ears projecting outward at the bottom of said magazine and overlying said second anvil whereby the outturned for staples pivoted to said base, staple driving legs of staples are flattened against said second anvil.

8. A stapling machine comprising a base, means for driving staples, an anvil on said base made up of a plurality of sections, one of said sections being supported for longitudinal sliding movement along said base, and having means for bending the legs of the staples, the other of said sections being fixed and having a groove affording a means against which the staple legs may be straightened and flattened and also a means for preventing displacement of the staples, and means operated by said staple driving means for sliding said movable section longitudinally of said base after the legs of the staple have been bent thereby and when the legs are about to be straightened and flattened in the groove of said fixed section.

9. A stapling machine comprising a base, an anvil thereon, a staple carrying arm pivoted to the base and provided with a magazine forthe staples, a staple driving tool and operating mechanism therefor, said anvil comprising a fixed anvil member against which the legs of the staple are flattened, and a shiftable anvil member having means for initially bending the legs of the staple, a plate carrying said shiftable anvil member at its forward end, a link overlying the plate and pivotally connected thereto at its rearward end, spring means for normally maintaining the plate and link in such position that the shiftable anvil member is operatively related to the staple driving tool, and means mounted on the staple carrying arm and connected with the forward end of the link and positioned to be operated by the operating mechanism for the staple driving tool to shift the link, plate and shiftable anvil member rearwardly and out of the range of action of said tool during the final bending of the staple legs.

10. In a stapling device, a beam magazine for staples, a hollow reciprocal plunger on said mag-. azine, a driving tool connected to said plunger, a spring contained within the walls of said hollow plunger and an operating lever pivoted to said magazine and connected to said plunger, there being means on the walls of said plunger intermediate the ends of said spring for connecting said lever to said plunger.

11. In a stapling device, a base having a shiftable anvil, a beam magazine for staples mounted to said base, a housing mounted to the for-ward end of said magazine, staple driving means in said housing, movable means associated with said housing for operating said shiftable anvil and an operating member for said driving means having 4 one end pivoted to said magazine and the other end connected to said staple driving means, said other end being engageable during a portion of the working stroke of said operating member with said movable means whereby said movable means is actuated to shift said anvil.

12. In a stapling device, a beam magazine comprising a core forming a staple track and side plates to guide the staples on said track, staple driving means on said magazine, said side plates having extension members, an operating lever having side walls connected to said staple .driving means and movably connected to said extension members and a spacing member and a pivot member comprising means for mounting and holding said operating lever and said extension members in spaced relation.

13. In a stapling machine, staple driving means, a beam magazine having a core forming a staple track, a housing on said magazine for said staple driving means, side plates mounted to said core and having inturned flanges to guide staples on said track, an operating member secured to said staple driving means, upright projections on the rear of said side plates, said operating member being pivoted to said projections, and a spring operated follower on said core to advance the staples along said track, a portion of said inturned flanges being removed between said housing and said upright projections to form a clearance space to remove said follower from said track.

14. A stapling machine comprising a base, a staple carrying arm pivotally interconnected therewith and yieldably urged away from the same, staple driving means including a plunger having a knob thereon mounted on said arm and an operating lever connected only with said arm and driving means and overlying and ap-- proximately paralleling said arm and having one end slidably and pivotally supported and its other end terminating at and interconnected with said plunger below said knob for operating the same.

15. A stapling machine comprising a base, a staple carrying arm mounted thereon and yieldably urged away from the same, said staple car- 'rying arm having a magazine for the staples, and

means for driving the staples, an operating lever overlying said arm and having one end pivotally supported and its other end connected to the staple driving means for operating the same, means for feeding the staples through the magazine including a spring operated follower and interengageable means between said lever and s2 follower for holding thefollower out of the way when the same is removed from the magazine.

16. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm made up of a molded core and metal side plates interconnected with the core and having means coacting therewith to provide a staple magazine, a metal die block at the forward end of the core, a separate housing interconnected with said side plates and with said die block for supporting the same, and means mounted on the housing and coacting with the die block for driving staples. v

17. A stapling machine comprising a base, an anvil thereon, a staple carrying arm pivotally mounted on the base and comprising a core, and means coacting with said core to provide a magazine for the staples, said core having a recess therein, a washer at the entrance of said recess, a stud having one end secured to the base and hav ing its other end extending through the washer into said'recess and a spring on said stud having one end engaged with the washer to yieldably urge the arm away from the base.

18. A stapling machine comprising a staple carrying arm having a magazine for the staples and a housing containing means for driving the staples, a follower for feeding the staples through the magazine, and spring means for actuating the follower comprising a spring housing having hooks, a bar mounted on the main housing with which said hooks are engageable, said spring housing and said main housing having interengageable portions for holding the spring housing in position under the'tension of its spring.

19. A stapling machine including a staple car- .rying arm comprising a molded core and metal side plates coacting therewith to provide a magazine for the staples, a housing mounted on the forward end of said plates, said core terminating short of the front wall of said housing, a metal die block secured to said housing and interposed between the forward end of said core and the front wall of the housing, and coacting therewith to provide a guideway for the staples, and staple driving means including a driving tool slidable through said guideway.

20. In a stapling machine including a staple carrying arm comprising a core and side plates with spaced inturned flanges forming a magazine for the staples, staple driving means on the projection engaging the front wall of said housing to properly space it therefrom.

21. In a stapling machine including a staple carrying arm comprising a core and side plates with inturned flanges forming a magazine for the staples, staple driving means on the arm including a separate housing, staple driving tool and a guideway through which staples are driven, a plate mounted on the intumed flanges and coacting with the front wall of the housing to maintain said driving tool in alinement with said guideway, and a spring for elevating the tool and having its lower end abutting said plate.

22. In a stapling machine, a'staple carrying arm forming a staple magazine, a staple driving means contained on the arm including a. housing and a reciprocal plunger mounted therein, a guideway through which staples are ejected one by one, means on the arm for feeding the staples successively to the driving means, the front wall of the housing being provided with recesses to assist in alining the staples to be ejected from the guideway, the housing having means on the front wall to engage the body portions of the staples and aline the same with the guideway, said housing also having-recesses to accommodate the legs of ,bent or out of square staples,

and means on the front wall of the housing to aline such staple legswith the guideway during 1 their descent in said guideway.

23. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying arm comprising a core and side platesforming a staple magazine, a housing on the arm, said core terminating short of the front wall of the housing, a die block mounted between the core and housing, said die block coacting with the front wall of the housing to form a guideway for the staples and said die block coacting with the core to form the runway for the staples, a stapling tool mounted for driving the staples, and cutting edges on the die block cooperable with the driving tool for severing the legs of deformed or bent staples, there being openings through which such severed pieces may fall from the arm.

24. In a stapling machine having a reciprocable staple driving tool and means for actuating the same, means for insuring a full stroke of said tool including a detent supported for pivotal and longitudinal shifting movement, means associated with the tool and coacting with the detent to prevent upward movement of the tool when the detent is in its normal position, and means operable at the completion of a full stroke to shift the detent longitudinally and out of its normal position thereby releasing the tool for a return stroke.

25. In a stapling machine having a reciprocable staple driving tool and means for actuating the same, means for insuring a full stroke of said tool and including a detent supported for pivotal and longitudinal shifting movement, there being a row of notches on the tool with which said detent coacts and also a slot alongside of said row of notches and having its upper end inclined and overlying the same and its lower end beveled whereby at the completion of a full stroke the inclined portion of said slot shifts the detent longitudinally and frees the tool for return movement, the slot accommodating the detent during .such movement, the, beveled end of the slot automatically releasing the detent and permitting it to return to normal position.

26. In a stapling device having a beam magazine for staples, a. staple driving tool and an ejection chute through which the staples are discharged, a plate flatly mounted on the-top of said magazine, said plate having its front end provided with a notch and projections engaging the rear face and the two edges of said driving tool for alinement thereof with said ejection chute.

27. In a stapling device having staple driving means and a beam magazine for staples, an ejection chute through which the staples are discharged, a U-shaped housing mounted on said magazine and forming guiding rneans for said staple driving means and pressed-out portions formed on said U-shaped housing to aline bent or crooked staple legs with said ejection chute as they are being discharged from said magazine.

28. In a stapling device having a beam magazine for staples, a housing having side walls on said magazine and a hollow plunger operable within said side walls, a spring within said means for said staple driving means, a follower for moving the staples to said driving means, a

housing, a spring within said housing for actuating said follower, mounting means between said spring housing end said guiding means comprising a bar carried by one of the members and deother of said members.

30..In a stapling device having staple driving means, a. beam magazine and an actuating lever overlying said magazine and movably mounted to said staple driving means and said magazine, a spring operated follower to feed the staples to said driving means, said follower having downwardly formed exposed'ears providing a handle for retracting action whereby to prevent interference with the action of said actuating lever, said ears also forming means engageable with said lever to maintain said follower in retracted position.

31. In a stapling device having a base provided with an anvil, a beam magazine pivotally mounted to said base and having a moldedcore forming a staple track and staple driving means carried by said magazine, spring means for urging said beam magazine away from said base and protecting means between said core and said spring means to eliminate wear on said molded core.

32. In a stapling device, a base having an anvil, a beam magazine for staples mounted on said base, staple driving means carried by said magazine and an operating lever overlying said magazine and having one end pivoted to said magazine and the other end connected to said staple driving means, said base being wide at the anvil end and tapering toward the rearward end whereby the operator can straddle said base and said lever with the fingers, the rearward end of said base having upward flanges thereon to pivotally mount said beam magazine for the staples.

33. In a stapling device, a base having an anvil for clinching staples, a beam magazine for staples, staple driving means on said magazine, an operating member overlying said magazine and hav-- ing one end pivoted to said magazine and the other end connected to said staple driving means,

and upturned sides on said base to pivotally staples are discharged mount said magazine, a portion of the upturned sides remaining in alinement with the bottom of said base to render it more stable inthe operation of said stapling device.

34. In a stapling device having staple driving means, a beam magazine having a non-metallic core forming a staple track, side plates to guide the staples on through which the staples are discharged from the magazine, and a metal die block at the forward end of said core, the upper edge of said die block coacting with said driving means in ejecting staples through said chute.

35. In a stapling device, a beam magazine having a non-metallic molded core forming a staple track, guiding means to guide the staples on said track and a metal die block at the forward end of said core forming a complete continuation of said staple track.

36. In a stapling device, a beam magazine comprising a forming a staple track, guiding means to guide the staples on said track, a die block at the forward end of said molded core forming a complete continuation of said staple track, and an election chute through which the from said magazine, said die block having means providing rear and side walls for said chute.

37. In a stapling machine comprising a magazine for staples and a staple driving tool, an ejection chute through which staples are discharged from said. magazine by said tool, said chute including a member forming the forward guide for staples in said chute, said member hav-.

ing spaced portions forming guides for the legs of the staples and an intermediate portion forming a guide for the bridge of the staples, said spaced leg guiding portions for a portion of their length being positioned forwardly of said intermediate bridge guiding portion whereby staples with forwardly misaligned legs may enter said ejection chute.

38. A portable staple driving tool comprising an arm provided with a staple supporting and staple driving means, a pair of hand operating levers pivotally connected thereto on opposite sides thereof, an anvil carried by one of said levers in alignment with said staple driving means, means normally operative to maintain the free ends of said levers in spaced relation to said arm, and

dual means for actuating said staple driving means, one of said means including an operative connection between said driving means and said other operating lever whereby when desired, said two operating levers may be grasped to forcibly urge the anvil into engagement with the staple supporting arm and to move the other lever toward said arm to actuate the staple driving means,-said other operating means including a pressure head carried by the staple driving means and a flat supporting surface provided on the under face of the anvil supporting lever whereby when said device is supported on said surface, pressure may be applied to said pressure head to actuate the driving means against said anvil.

39. A portable staple driving tool comprising a pair of spaced hand operating levers and an arm disposed between sa1d levers and having'pivotal connection with both of said levers, said arm being provided with staple supporting and staple driving means, an anvil carried by one of said levers in substantial alignment with the staple driving means, means normally operative to maintain the other of said levers and said arm in spaced relasaid track, an ejection chute surface provided tion, and dual means for actuating said staple driving means, one of said means including an operative connection between said staple driving means and said other operating lever whereby when desired said two operating levers may be grasped to forcibly urge same toward each other to bring the anvil into operative engagement with the staple supporting arm and to concurrently actuate the staple driving means, said other actuating means including a pressure head carried by the staple driving means, and a tool supporting on the anvil supporting lever whereby when said device is supported on said surface said staple supporting arm and said other hand operating lever overlie the anvil carrying arm in superposed relation so that pressure may be applied to said pressure head. to actuate the staple driving means against said anvil.

so. A staple driving tool having its driving edge provided with two teeth terminating in sharp, biting edges, there being one tooth adjacent each end of the driving edge, said teeth projecting slightly in advance of the driving edge and bein positioned to engage portions of the bridge of the staple immediately adjacent to and overlying the juncture of the legs with the bridgeportion, the driving edge, except for the two teeth, being otherwise straight whereby when the edge operatively engages the staple the teeth will bite slightly into the material of the bridge portion and function to prevent deformation of the bridge.

41. In a machine of the type specified, a staple driving tool having a driving edge, said driving edge being provided with spaced tooth structures terminating in sharp biting edges, the tooth structures each consisting of at least one tooth adjacent each side edge of the driving tool, the driving tool, except for said structures, being otherwise straight, said 'teeth projecting slightly in advance of the driving edge and being so positioned that when the driving edge of the tool operatively engages the staple the teeth will bear on portions of the bridge of the staple located substantially at and overlying the juncture between the legs and the bridge portion whereby the tooth may have sufficient biting engagement with the bridge portion of the staple to prevent deformation thereof.

42. A staple driving tool having its driving edge provided with two teeth terminating in sharp, biting edges, there being one tooth adjacent each end of the driving edge, said teeth projecting slightly in advance of the driving edge and being to prevent deformation of the bridge.

43. A staple driving tool having its driving edge provided with teeth, one adjacent each end of the driving edge, said teeth terminating in sharp biting edges projecting slightly in advance of the driving head and being sloped toward the sides of said driving tool, and being positioned to engage portions of the bridge of the staples immediately adjacent to and overlying the juncture of the legs with the bridge portion, the driving edge, except for the teeth, being otherwise straight whereby when the driving edge operatively engages the staple the teeth will bite slightly into the material of the bridge portion 2,oee,1 57 and function to prevent defamation of the positioned to engage portions of the bridge of the bridge.

staple immediately adjacent to and overlying the 44. In a stapling deivce for driving preformed staples having indentations with inwardly slo driving edge, except for the teeth. ing other- 5 ing sides upon the top of the bridge thereof, wise straight whereby when the driving edge opstaple driving means having a driving edge formed p l ly engages the aple said teeth will 0 r- .vlth teeth terminating in sharp biting edges at ve en a e said d n et s of the bridge no there being at least one tooth adjacent each end tion and function to prevent deformation of the of the driving edge, said teeth projecting slightly ridge.

10 in advance of the driving edge and being sloped WILLIAM G. PANKONIN.

toward the sides of said driving too]. and being 

